Unloading apparatus.



vPATBNTED APR. 14, 1903. G.. CAMPBELL. UNLGADING- APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEO. 19, 1902.

No Mom:1..`v

NITED STATESY PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES CAMPBELL, OF GRANTPARK, ILLINOIS.

UNLOADING APPARATUS."

SPECIFICATION forming part 0f Letters Patent N 0. 725,406, dated April 14, 1903. Application filed December 19,1902. `'Serial No. 135,897. (No model.)

This invention relatesto improvements inl an unloading apparatus, and whileit is more especially intended to be used in connection with wagons for hauling or transporting corn and other grain from the field to the grana'ry and then hoisting and unloading it, yet it is. applicable for use in hoisting and conveying from one point to another, and finally discharging or unloading it, various kinds of material, such as all sorts of field products,

sand, gravel, coal, potatoes, fruit, and the like; and it consists in certain peculiarities of the construction, novel arrangement, and' operation of the various parts thereof, as will` be hereinafter more'fully set forth and spe-4 drawings.

cifically claimed.

labor.

It is therefore they principal object of my'` invention to provide an unloading apparatus of the above-described character which shall.

be simple and inexpensive in construction, strong, durable, and so made that the operation of hoisting and unloading may be easily, satisfactorily, and quickly performed.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the apparatus by using a number of receptacles that the load will be-divided, thus rendering it more easily handled and* at the same time affording means for keeping different kinds of grain or materialseparate.

A further object is to provide each of the receptacles with an automatically closing and fastening door or bottom. Other objects and advantages of the invention will be disclosed in the subjoined description'and'explanation In order to enable others skilled in the art to which -my invention pertains to make and ysupporting-frame.

'as' shown.

use the same, I will now proceed to describe it, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a View in side elevation showing an unloading apparatus embodying my invention and illustrating by continuous lines the parts imposition ready for use and by'dotted lines one of the receptacles in the act of being hoisted. Fig.'2 is an enlarged top plan View of one of the boxes or receptacles, showing it in position on a part of the Fig-3 is an enlarged sectional v'iew of a portion of one of the boxes or receptacles, showing the bottom or door thereof depressed to the position it will occupy when the contents of the box are discharged or emptied; and Fig. 4 is a fragmental view of the lower portion of one ofthe boxes or receptacles, showing the door or bottom fastened in position.

Similar letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the different views of the A represents the side railsof the supporting-frame, which is preferably rectangular in shape and of a size to fit and rest between lthe standards of the front and rear-trucks of a wagon. (N ot shown.) The ends of the side vrails vA are united by cross-pieces A', which, as shown in Fig. l of the drawings, project above the upper surface of the rails A, and thus afford means to prevent the movement longitudinally thereon of the boxes B or receptacles, three of which I prefer to use.

Each of the side rails'A is provided at about its middlewith a 'standing board a and is usually braced 'by means of a brace'bar or rod a and cross-pieces a2, as is clearly shown in Fig. l of the drawings.

EachV of the boxes or receptacles Bis made of any suitable size, form, and material, but preferably of wood and rectangular in shape, The top and bottom of each of the boxes'Bis open, and the lower portion of the sides B of each of the boxes is provided with a vrecess b to receive a portion of the bottom or door C, which is pivotally secured on a rod 'D, extending from one side to the other of the box and secured at its ends in metal plates or straps c, bolted or otherwise secured to said sides. Each of the lower ends of the boxes is provided with inwardlyinclined pieces E, which extend from one side of the box to the other and is used for the purpose of guiding the grain or other material therefrom, as well as for strengthening the box or receptacle.

As is clearly shown in Figs. 2 to 4, inclusive, of the drawings, the door or bottom C is so made that its upper portion when in its deflected position will operate between the sides B of the box and when in its horizontal or closed position the side edges thereof will rest in the recesses i) of the sides B', so that it will be flush with the lower surface of the box. In other words, the Lipper portion of the door when deflected is reduced or cut away, as at c', on each ot" its sides, while its lower portion is provided with lateral extensions c2 to rest against the lower edges of the sides of the box and to project laterally therefrom. To prevent the door turning too far, I secure to the inner surface of each of the sides B a piece d, against which the upper end of the door will impinge and which act as stops or checks therefor. The upper or shorter portion of the door or bottom C is provided with a weight D' to connterbalance the other portion of the door, so as to cause it to automatically close after the box shall have been emptied. Each side of the door is provided near its front or lower end with a catch d to engage the levers F, one of which is fulcrumed to each of the sides of the box and has its lower end formed with a beveled projection f to engage the catch nl on the door or bottom. Secured at one of its ends to each of the sides B of the box is a spring g, the other end of which is attached to the upper portion of the lever F and is used to cause the projection f on said lever to engage its catch. Each of these levers is held in place and its movement regulated by means of a guide-piece g', secured to the side of the box. Connected to the upper end of each of the levers F is a rod h, which passes through a guide-piece lt and has in its free end an eye h2, to which may be attached a tripping rope or cord h3, used for releasing the levers F from their catches, so as to allow the bottom or door to be dropped. The upper portion of each of the sides B' is provided at about its middle with a strap H, having in its upper end an opening 71.4, in which may be secured a cord or chain to which the lifting device Gr, such as a hay-lifter or the like, may be connected for hoisting the box or receptacle from the supporting-frame.

From the foregoing and by reference to the drawings it will be seen and clearly understood that by placing three of the boxes or receptacles on the supporting-frame,as shown in Fig. l of the drawings, the end receptacles will be prevented from longitudinal movement by means of the cross-pieces A of the frame, and, as before stated, they will be held against lateral movement by the standards of the wagon. The middle box will be prevented from excessive movement in either direction by means of the end boxes, as is apparent. After the boxes have been filled by allowing the grain to run therein from the threshing-machine or otherwise they may be conveyed on the wagon to the granary, Where they may be hoisted by means of any suitable hoisting device and swung over the bin, when by pulling on the tripping-rope h3 the levers F will be disengaged from the catches d' on the door or bottom, thus releasing it and allowing it to assume the position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, at which time the grain or other material will be discharged from the box or receptacle. As soon as the box has been emptied the door C will be caused to assume a horizontal or closed position by reason of the counterbalancing-weight D', which is located, as before stated, on its shorter portion. As the door rises to a horizontal position the catches d will strike the beveled or inclined surfaces of the projections f on the levers F and force them outwardly from said catches until the catches have passed beyond the ends of the projections, when the springs g will retract the leversF, and thus cause the projections to automatically engage the catches and fasten the door in position.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-` l. In an unloading apparatus, the combination with the supporting-frame having upward projections at its ends, with a seriesof boxes resting on said frame,the end boxes resting against the inner surface of said projections to prevent their longitudinal movement thereon, each ot' said boxes having its lower side edges recessed, and provided with means to engage a hoisting device,a counterweighted door pivotally secured between the sides of each of the boxes at their lower portions, said door having a reduced portion to extend between the box sides, and a widened portion to rest in the said recesses of the sides, and to project beyond the same, and means to automatically fasten each of the doors, when closed, substantially as described.

2. In an unloading apparatus, the combination with a box, of a counterweighted door pivotally secured between its sides at the lower portion thereof and having a catch at each of its sides, a spring-actuated lever fulcrumed to each side of the box and having at their lower ends beveled projections to engage said catches, means connected to the upper ends of the levers to trip the same, and means on the upper portion of the box to engage a hoisting device, substantially as described.

3. In an unloading apparatus, the combination with a box havingits lower side edges recessed, of a coun terweighted door pivotally secured between the sides of the box at their lower portions, said door having a reduced portion to extend between the box sides and a widened portion to rest in the said recesses IOO IIO

725,406 v Ss of the sides and to project beyond thek same, l upper end of the box to engage a hoisting dea. catch secured to emfnhlside of the door, a. vice, substantially as described. spring-actuated ieve u orumed to each side of the box and provided with beveled projeen .CHARLES CAMPBELL' 5 tions at their lower ends to engage said Witnesses:

catches, means connected to the upper ends L. C. STREETER, 4of said levers to trip them, and means on the T. J. WHEELER. 

